INVOCATION (Liturgists words; Congregation’s words)
Today is ordained for rest and reflection for your sake.
May we feel peace, and fill with God’s truth,
and find the way for ourselves and our earth.
The Sabbath is for you.
May its blessings come to us that we might bless.
This time of communion is open to all.
May all open to this time of communion.

PRAYERS OF HOPE with The Lord’s Prayer
Gracious and Holy Spirit, help us attune with you
as we see you in the world.
Our concern is often only self; yours is all Creation.
Our impulse is often to possess; yours is always giving.
Our tendency in duress is blame; yours is always blessing.
Our result is often pain; yours is always hope.
Holy Spirit, may we be as you are,
and so we pray as Jesus has taught us:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

* Asterisk indicates an opportunity to stand if you would.

ASSURANCE
If you devote yourself to Christ’s summons,
you will be renewed in God’s power
to win the good will of all the spirits of the earth.

PRAYERS OF CARING for those in need of our prayers and caring

OFFERING Whiter Than Snow arr. Richard Huggins

SCRIPTURE Matthew 16: 13-20
The word of God; Thanks be to God.

*HYMN 430 Come Sing, O Church, in Joy

SCRIPTURE Acts 1: 6-14; 2: 41-47
The word of God; Thanks be to God.

REFLECTION WE ARE BUILDING

COMMUNION In This Very Room arr. Kurt Kaiser

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH drawn from Psalm 1 & the Presbyterian Confessions
When we are our best,
when we do not accept falsehood
or walk with the wayward or side with cynics,
we are prepared for blessing.
When we delight in holy ways and holy friends both day and night,
then we are like trees planted by streams of water,
yielding good fruit, our leaves never withering.
Joyous are we when we feel God’s touch,
for there is our strength, and there is our call,
and there is our assurance that nothing can part us from God. Amen.

PRAYER OF THANKS
You are the rock upon which our church is built. You are the stones of shelter from the storms.
You are the foundation of love for one another.
We give thanks for one another and for the grace of God in all. Amen.

*HYMN 524 Holy Spirit, Lord of Love

BLESSING

POSTLUDE Allegro A. Corelli

*REFRESHMENTS Refreshments for all in the Fellowship Hall

New to Highlands? Welcome!
Please leave us your name and contact information
on one of the yellow slips and please join us for Refreshments and conversation

Our Communications and Growth Committee urges us all to invite friends to visit our HPC Facebook page & Webpage. And if you have photos of church activities, please send them to Susan Mickelberry for possible posting on-line.

FIRST READING: Matthew 10: 1, 5-7; Luke 10:5
Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. He sent them out with the following instructions: “Go to the the lost sheep…. Proclaim the good news that the kingdom of heaven has come near. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this home.”

SECOND READING: Matthew 16: 13-20
13When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi (northeast of the Sea of Galilee), he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! … 18And I tell you, you are Peter (or, in Greek, the Rock), and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind to heal on earth will be bound and healed in heaven, and whatever you loose and free on earth will be loosed and freed in heaven.

THIRD READING: Acts 1:6-14; 2: 41-47
6So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
41And from the day of the Holy Spirit, when about three thousand persons were baptized by the apostles in Jerusalem, they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

CONGREGATIONAL QUESTIONS for June 1, 2014
1. Jesus built on the rock of Peter & the apostles. What are we building on at Highlands?
2. Jesus built a community that devoted itself to the Good News of God’s universal life-power and God’s heaven by sharing & caring. What are we building at Highlands?
3. Jesus’ community built with what they had to offer to help others (time, compassion, and life resources – the grace of empowerment and the truth of caring relationship). What are we building with?